Talia Stoessel has dedicated countless hours and dynamic energy to the struggle for LGBTQ rights and equality. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of California, Santa Cruz, in 2006, where she earned her B.A. in psychology with honors, with a concentration in feminist studies and sexuality.

Before law school, Talia worked at Friends Outside, a California organization providing case management services to people who are incarcerated or recently released. She also worked as a program specialist for an LGBTQ Tobacco Project at Fenway Community Health.

A student at Northeastern University’s School of Law, Talia has maintained a high level of community involvement. Talia coordinated with the Poverty Law Clinic and Boston GLASS (Gay and Lesbian Adolescent Social Services) to create a presentation on how to access food stamps for LGBTQ homeless youth. Talia completed a co-op with the National Center for Lesbian Rights and was a recipient of the Pride Law Fund fellowship. She is an active member of Northeastern’s Queer Caucus, including raising money for Boston GLASS, co-hosting panels on LGBTQ issues, and advocating for the addition of gender identity to non-discrimination policies. She has written extensively on LGBTQ rights, including a memorandum regarding access to medical services for transgender youth in foster care and a paper addressing the U.S. asylum process for LGBTQ applicants. Talia is also a student representative to the Mass LGBTQ Bar board.

Talia plans to dedicate herself to improving the law and the legal system to empower and assist disadvantaged communities. She has a bright future advocating for the interests of groups within the LGBTQ community.

The Massachusetts LGBTQ Bar Association encourages all members to donate to the Gray Scholarship Fund. To make a tax deductible contribution to the Fund, please click here. If you have any questions about the Gray Scholarship Fund or how to make a gift, please contact MJ Edwards at (617) 526-6215 or mj.edwards@wilmerhale.com. Thank you for your support.